Life-saving garment.



E. M. LOWY.

LIFE SAVING GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT.24. 1911.

1,291,648. Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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LIFE SAVING GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.24, I917.

1,291,648. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL M. LOW Y, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO LOWY LIFE SAVING SUIT CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LIFE-SAVING GARMENT.

Specification of Letters'latent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192,911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL M. LOWY, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements *in Life-Saving Garments, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to what are known as union life saving garments composed of a body, leg and arm sleeve portions and constructed without an aperture or opening except at the top or neck portion where there is a large opening to permit of the garment being drawn on over the body of the wearer in' the manner of a pair of trousers and the insertion of the arms into the arm sleeves; and the object of this invention is to provide a garment of the class specified having front and back, or inner and outer hood members formed in connection with the top body portion of the garment and adapted to be manipulated in such manner as to form a complete head inclosing hood entirely closed, except for a face opening at the front, the back hood member beingadapted to inclose and to operate in connection with the front hood member when in use and to form a complete head inclosing hood which is water and air tight, or approximately so.

The entire garment is composed of flexible waterproof material, it being understood that said material includes rubber or other waterproof substances, and may include a combination of rubber and fibrous material, and when in use only the face of the wearer is exposed. A particular feature of the invention resides in the form, construction and use of the separate hood members which are interdependent in construction and use, and which form when in use a complete head inclosing hood having a front face opening only, and which conforms to the shape of the head, face and neck of the wearer to form a watertight closure for the entire garment, and with the foregoing objects and others in view. the invention consists in a garment of the class specified, constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which legs and I the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing my improved life saving garment as in use;

Fig. 2 a perspective view showing one step in the operation of folding or applying the separate hood members to form a complete head inclosing hood as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a viewvsimilar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification;

Fig. 4; a perspective view of the top part of a life saving garment made according to my invention but showing a modification;

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. t but partially showing the method of operation of employing or applying the hood members;

Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig. 5 but further showing the method or operation of employing or applying the hood members; and,

Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing another modification.

My improved life saving garment comprises a body portion 10 having leg portions 10 and arm sleeves l1, and at the top of the body portion is the front or inner hood member 12 having a front face opening 12 and as shown in Fig. 3 the top of the part 12 is provided with an elastic insert 13, and at the bottom of the face'opening, or in the front part of the neck portion of the garment which is formed partially by the part 12 is another elastic insert 1.4: which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

At the back top part of the body portion of the garment is the back or outer hood member 16 which is formed from, or consists of a pouch 16 integral with the back of the body portion of the garment and integral with, or continuous with, the back part of the side portions of the front or inner hood member 12, and when said pouch is extended as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the back part thereof is tapered downwardly and inwardly to the bottom of the back part of the body portion of the garment, and there is a continuous opening in the top of said pouch extending from the point 16 to the point 16, and this constitutes the entrance opening 19 of the garment, in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and which permits of the garment being drawn on over the legs and body portion of the wearer.

The back of the pouch 16 from which the hood member 16 is formed, is provided with a strap or straps 17 of any suitable material which are vulcanized or otherwise secured to said pouch, and the side portions of the pouch 16 are provided with keepers 18 through which the strap or straps 17 are adapted to be passed. I

The object of the elastic inserts 13 and 14 is to give expansion to the hood member 12 when necessary, and to cause a more perfect fit of said hood member so as to facilitate the closure of the face opening 12 around the face of the wearer, and in the use of my improved life saving garment it is drawn on over the feet, legs and body, as herein described, after which the arms are passed into and through the arm sleeves 11, after which the hood member 12 is adjusted and drawn down and properly positioned, after which the pouch 16, which forms the hood member 16, is drawn forwardly as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 which shows only a part of said operation, after which said hood member 16 is drawn fully forward into the position shown in Fig. 1, after which the strap or straps 17 are drawn forwardly and passed around the neck and secured by a buckle or other device as shown at 17 in Fig. 1, or said strap or straps may be tied or secured in any manner.

In drawing the pouch 16 forward to form the hood member 16 so as to fully inclose the hood member 12 and to form a water-tight closure around the neck of the wearer, the side edge portions of the opening 19 in the top of the pouch 16 fold to for forwardly directed side flaps 16 as shown in Fig. 2, which inclose the sides of the hood member 12, and which are drawn forwardly as shown in Fig. 1 until the hood member 12 is entirely inclosed and the opening in the back of the hood member 12 below the point 16 is also securely closed in this operation, and no water can enter the garment, and this result is also facilitated by the fact that the wearer of the garment when said garment is in use will be supported with his head and the top part of his body out of the water, and in this connection it must be borne in mind that the top body'portion of the garment and sleeve portions thereof, or any part of said garment will be provided, in practice, with buoyant padding consisting of any suitable material such as kapok, finely divided cork, or any other suitable substance or substances, samples of which are shown and described together with methods of using the same in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,180,839 issued April 1916; 1,002,912, Sept. 12, 1911; and 1,044,652 Nov. 19, 1912, but as such float or buoyant material and the method of its use form no part of this invention but are well known to all those familiar with garments of the class specified such material and the method of its 2 and.3, in that the hood member 12 is split forwardly and backwardly at the topas shown at 12*, and with this construction the entrance opening 19 extends from the point 16 forwardly to the bottom front edge portion 12 of the face opening 12 in the front hood member 12. In this construction the separate side portions of the front hood member 12 are provided with straps 13 and 14 the latter of which is provided with a buckle 14 and the side of the hood member 12 with which the strap 14 is connected, is provided with a slot 15 through which, in the adjustment of the hood member 12 on the head of the wearer as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the strap 13 is passed, and said straps 13 and 14 in this opera tion, are buckled beneath the throat of the wearer, or tied or secured in any desired manner.

In this form of construction, the strap or straps 17 and the keepers 18 are employed in the same manner as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and said straps may be secured at the throat by tying or by a buckle, and said straps may also be passed entirely around the neck, if desired, and in the top edge portions of the side walls of the entrance opening 19, I employ or may employ elastic gore pieces 20 as shown in Fig. 4, which will further facilitate the formation of a perfect .closure for the garment by means of the hood members 12 and 16.

This construction provides for a more perfect closure of the face opening in the front hood member than would probably be possible with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the straps 13f and 14 by reason of the method of their use operating to make the hood member 12 a perfect fit around the face opening, and this when the hood member 16 is drawn forward and closed as shown in Fig. 1 completes a hood construction by. means of which the entrance of water, in any amount to the garment, when said garment is .in use would be absolutely prevented.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7, the top of the body of the garment between the shoulder portions and centrally thereof is provided with a neck portion 30, and the side portions of which are provided with raised flaps or ears 30 which are continuous with the side portions 30 of the pouch 16, or the hood 16 formed from said pouch as clearly shown, and the flaps or ears 30 at the opposite sides of the head, when the garment is in use, are connected by straps 30. In the construction shown, the flaps or ears 3O extend only slightly above the ears of the wearer, but said flaps or cars may be made higher, if desired, and the neck portion 30 and said flaps or cars 30 together with the connecting straps or other devices 30 form the front or inner hood member. In this construction the entrance opening 19 extends from the point 16, forwardly to the front of the neck portion 30, or the bottom of the face opening in the front hood member at 30, and the method of folding and securing the back or outer hood member 16 will bethe same as with the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, and in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the hood members 12 and 16 form not only a complete head inclosing hood but also the neck portion of the garment, and this invention is an improvement over earlier garments of this class because of the fact that when the garment is in use practically the entire weight thereof, including the lead or other weights which are customarily fitted to the feet of the garment is carried by the head of the wearer, or said garment is suspended from the head of the wearer, and there is an absence of any tendencyto choke the wearer by reason of the method of closing the hood members around the neck, which tendency ispresent in constructions of this class where the garment is suspended from the neck or secured only at the neck.

It will also be noted that my improvement does not involve the use of buttons, clamps, hinges and other metal fastening devices, the only thing of this kind shown being the buckles 1 1" and 17 but these buckles are not necessary and the straps with which they are connected may be tied, and if buckles are preferred, they may be made of non-corrosive material.

Another advantage of my improvement is found in the fact that when constructed, as shown and described, the garment may be put on or applied to the wearer when necessary in the shortest possible time, and this is frequently a very important element to be considered, and in order to facilitate this operation the entire garment, including the body portion, legs and arm sleeves is made large and the garment may be drawn on over the usual clothes which may be used, or with which the wearer may be provided at the time that the garment must be used, and separate leg members are not an absolutely essential feature of my improvement, and other forms for the bottom portion of my improved garment may be adapted to facilitate its use by both sexes.

The structural modifications shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings and herein described in detail are not claimed, but is made the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by me March 16, 1918, Serial No. 222,793, and it will be seen that the distinctive difierence between these two applications is that this case covers the main entrance opening with two hood members broadly, while application No. 222,793 is limited to two hood members one of which is split.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the neck portion thereof with an entrance opening having oppositely arranged hood forming members, said members being adapted to cooperate to form a complete head inclosing hood provided with a face opening and also to serve in connection with the person of the wearer of the garment to close said opening against the entrance of water.

2. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the neck portion thereof with an entrance opening having oppositely arranged hood forming members the side portions of which are continuous, said members being adapted to cooperate to form a complete head inclosing hood provided with a face opening and also to serve in connection with the person of the wearer of the garment to close said opening against the entrance of water.

3. A life saving union garment, comprising a body, leg and arm sleeve portions, said garment being composed of flexible material and provided with a top entrance opening having front and back hood members, the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood member and to form in connection therewith a complete hood closure device having a front face opening.

4:. A life saving union garment composed of flexible and waterproof material and comprising a body part, leg members and arm sleeve members and provided at the top with an entrance opening to permit of the garment being pulled on over the legs and body of the wearer, said entrance opening being provided with front and back hood members which cooperate to form a complete head inclosing hood having a front face opening and said hood members being adapted to form a complete water excluding closure device.

5. A union garment of the class described closed except at the top where it is provided with a forwardly and backwardly ranging entrance opening and front and back hood members, the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forward and to inclose the front hood member when in use, and said hood members forming a complete wate excluding hood and closure device for said garment, the front of said hood and closure device being provided with a face opening.

6. A union garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with a forwardly and backwardly ranging entrance opening having front and back hood members provided with continuous side portions, the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forward and to inclose the front hood member and to be secured around the neck so as to form a complete closure hood for said garment.

7. A union garmentof the class described provided at the neck or top portion with a forwardly and backwardly ranging entrance opening provided with front and back hood members, the side portions of said hood members being continuous and the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood member and being provided with closure devices by which it is secured around the neck of the wearer. I

8. A union garment of the class described, said garment being composed of flexible and waterproof material and the back body portion being provided at the top thereof witha pouch, said pouch and the neck portion of the garment being provided with a continuous entrance opening and said neck portion of the garment being provided with a front hood member and said pouch forming a back hood member, the" side walls of said hood members being continuous and said back hood. member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood member when in use and being also provided withmeans whereby it may be secured around the neck and beneath the chin of the wearer.

9. A life saving union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening and front and back hood members into which said opening extends, the side walls of said hood members being continuous and the front hood member being provided with a face opening and the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood member and to be secured around the neck of the wearer, said back and front hood members forming a complete closure hood in the front of which is a face opening.

10. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided with a neck portion forming an enlarged entrance opening having oppositely arranged hood members one of which is adapted to inclose the other and to be secured around the neck of the wearer, said hood members forming a complete water excluding closure device for sald entrance opening.

11. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided with an enlarged neck portion forming an entrance openingwhich ranges forwardly and backwardly when extended and at the front and rear ends of which are hood members, the front hood member being provided with a face opening and adapted to be drawn backwardly over the head and the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly over the front hood member and over the head and to form a complete closure device for said entrance opening.

12. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the top thereof with an enlarged neck portion forming an entrance opening at the front of which is a hood member provided with a face opening and at the back of which is a supplemental hood member, the front hood member being adapted to be drawn backwardly over the head and the back hood member to be drawn forwardly over the front hood member and over the head, the side walls of said hood members being formed integrally with the side walls of the neck portion of the garment and said hood members being tapered to form a complete head inclosing hood and to close the entrance opening of the garment.

13. A life saving union garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with a forwardly and backwardly ranging entrance opening at the front and back end portions of which are closure hood members, the front closure hood member being adapted to fit and inclose the head except at the front and back, and the back closure hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front closure hood member and to be secured around the neck so as to exclude water from said garment.

14. A union garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with a forwardly and backwardly ranging entrance opening having front and back closure devices, the front closure device being provided with a face opening and the back closure device being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front closure device and to be secured around the neck of the wearer so as to close said opening.

15. A union garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening having separate front and back closure devices, said front closure device being adapted to inclose the head and being'provided with a faceopening and the back closure device being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front closure device and to be secured around the neck so as to exclude water from said garment.

16. A union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening, and separate front and back closure members,

,one of said closure members being adapted to inclose the other, and said closure members being adapted to form a complete head inclosing hood having a face opening and to be secured around the neck so as to exclude water from said garment.

17. A life saving union garment provided at the top thereof with an enlarged entrance opening, and two opposite hood members one of which is adapted to inclose the other, said hood members being adapted to form a complete head-inclosing hood and to be secured around the neck and to operate in connection with the person of the wearer to seal the garment against the admission of water.

18. A life saving garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with an enlarged neck portion forming an entrance opening and in connection therewith with two oppositely arrangedclosure hood' members, one of which is adapted to inclose the other and to a complete hood for the wearer, and said parts being adapted to be secured around the neck and to form in connection with the person of the wearer complete means for exeluding water from said garment.

19. A union garment of the class described provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening, and two oppositelv arranged head inclosing hood devices, one of which is provided with a face opening and the other of which is adapted to be drawn into position to inclose the head and the one having the face opening, said parts being adapted to be secured around the neck and to form in connection with the person of the wearer com plete means for excluding water from said garment.

20. A life saving union garment of waterproof material and provided at the top thereof with a single opening in connection with which are formed two oppositely arranged head inclosing hood members, one of which is provided with a face openin and the other of which is adapted to inclose the part provided with a face opening and to be secured around the neck of the wearer and to form in connection with said part a complete head inclosing hood and to operate in connection with the person of the wearer in excluding water from said garment.

21. A life saving union garment of the class described, said garment being composed of flexible and waterproof material and being provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening and in connection with said opening with front and back hood members the side walls of which are continuous, the front hood member being provided form in connection therewith tion with the front hood member and the I person of the wearer means for excluding water from said garment.

A life saving union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the top thereof with an entrance opening having front and back hood devices the side walls of which are continuous, the front hood device being provided with' a face opening and the top and bottom parts thereof with elastic inserts, and the back hood device being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood device and the head of the wearer and being provided with means whereby it may be secured around the neck of the wearer so as to ex elude water from said opening.

23. A life saving union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the neck portion thereof with a forwardly and baekwardly ranging entrance opening provided at its front and back end portions with hood members the side walls of which are continuous, the front hood memberbeing provided with a face opening and the back hood member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood member and the head of the wearer, the sides of the back hood member being adapted to be drawn around beneath the chin of the wearer and to be secured around the neck so as to exclude water from said opening.

24. A life saving union garment composed of flexible material and provided at the neck portion thereof with an entrance opening and with means for forming front and back hood like members, the front hood like memher being adapted to inclose the head of the wearer and being provided with a face opening and the back hood like member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood like member and the head of the wearer, and the side parts thereof being adapted to be drawn forwardly and around the neck and to be secured so as to exclude water from said opening.

' 25. A life saving union garment composed of flexible material and provided at the neck portion thereof with an entrance opening and with means for forming front and back hood like members, the front hood like member being adapt ed to inclose the head of the wearer and being provided with a face opening and the back hood like member being adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood like member and the head of the wearer, and the side parts thereof being adapted to be drawn forwardly and around the neck and to be secured so as to exclude water from said opening, one of said parts being also provided with elastic inserts.

26. A life saving union garment of the class described, said garment being provided at the neck portion thereof with an entrance opening having front and back hood forming members, the front hood forming memher being provided with a face opening and being closed at the top and the back hood forming member being open and adapted to be drawn forwardly and to inclose the front hood forming member and the head 15 with the front hood forming member and 20 with the person of the wearer to exclude water from said openlng.

EMIL M. LOWVY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents" Washington, 10. 0. 

